App aims to hasten skin cancer treatment

Sunbathers at a beach in Thailand, a popular vacation spot for Swedes. The combination of fair skin and too much sun exposure is responsible for the overwhelming majority of skin cancer cases. Photo: TEH ENG KOON / AP / Scanpix

Throughout Europe today, it is Melanoma Monday. Sweden is at the top of the list in Europe when it comes to deadly skin cancer – about 500 people in this country died of it last year, and this is the day when people who have suspicious looking moles can go to the dermatologist without a referral from their general practitioner. Some general practitioners in the area of Västra Götaland have been testing a smartphone app to speed up the treatment of skin cancer.

Dr. John Paoli, who was a consultant for the development of the app, from Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, joins Radio Sweden on the line to explain how it works.